Dallas Stars Travel Hockey League

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Dallas Stars Travel Hockey League A year ago, the Dallas Stars, along with several local hockey organizations, recognized that there were not enough upper level players available to support the

1 Dallas Stars Travel Hockey League A year ago, the Dallas Stars, along with several local hockey organizations, recognized that there were not enough upper level players available to support the number of organizations offering AA teams. Over the course of many seasons, the talent pool had been severely diluted locally with A players rostered on AA teams and B and in-house level or select players playing on A teams. The end result was watered down competition at ALL levels and many of the players overpaying for their hockey experience. The game had become entirely too expensive for new players, many of whom had to bypass the much needed in-house development phase to jump onto more expensive travel teams to fill rosters. These budget-filling players sacrificed learning and development all in the name of some organizations claiming AA status. The Dallas Stars Travel Hockey League (DSTHL) was formed in preparation for the 2012/13 season to establish some restrictions on AA hockey, to facilitate players competing on the teams they would be more suited to be on, to reduce the overall number of travel teams and, instead, to grow the numbers at the in-house and select levels, and to hopefully reduce the cost of our sport for current and new players. The DSTHL had no desire to negatively impact any rink or reduce the number of kids playing hockey. We believed there should be a team for every kid who wanted to play our sport. At the start of each new season, not every player is a travel or elite level player, and the DSTHL wanted teams to be affordable and participate at the appropriate level AA, A, B, in-house, or select to allow maximum learning, enjoyment, and development. The DSTHL recognized this League would be a change for everyone and that the League s success would be dependent upon the participating organizations commitment to a responsible willingness to effectively work together with others to seek solutions.

2 Player numbers and skill levels, as well as geography, remain important factors in the selection or acceptance of the Member Organizations as well as the granting of AA status to teams. Outside of Dallas and Houston, the DSTHL remains committed to provide a strong and sound league option to the smaller markets in order to further the development and increase the number of players and teams across Texas and Oklahoma. In preparation for the season, the DSTHL commits to support the player development pyramid by continuing to work with all Member Organizations towards establishing the structure and governance that will provide a quality environment for League members and improving the overall level of competition in all playing divisions in order to deliver intelligent and financially appropriate hockey teams. 2

3 Dallas Stars Travel Hockey League 2013/14 FAQs Q-1 Moving forward, will there be any changes in how the DSTHL shall be governed? A. No changes are expected at this time regarding how the DSTHL is governed. League direction and policy will continue to be set by an Executive Committee that will be comprised of representatives from the Charter Member Organizations (DJHA, HC Dallas, Houston Wild, and Dallas Jr. Stars). A representative of the NHL Stars will also continue to sit on the Executive Committee. Currently, the Executive Committee consists of: DJHA Bryan Ford HC Dallas Paul Freudigman Houston Wild Karen Young Dallas Jr. Stars Keith Andresen NHL Stars Ed Reusch Officers of the DSTHL include: Jason Maurer Statistician Tanya Brewer Registrar Todd Plott Treasurer Kathi Singleton - Secretary Affiliate Member Organizations each select two non-voting representative Point of Contacts to act on behalf of their Member Organization at each of the monthly and the annual League meetings. The DSTHL is currently seeking a League Commissioner to oversee the day-to-day operation of the League and to provide liaison support with all League Members. 3

4 Q-2 Which associations shall participate in the DSTHL next season? A. The current list of clubs who have committed to the DSTHL for the 2013/14 season includes: Allen Americans BAHHA (Houston) DJHA Dallas Jr. Stars Dallas Oilers Dallas Star Elite HC Dallas Houston Hitmen (Houston) Houston Wild (Houston) Jr. Brahmas Lone Star Wolves McKinney Lightning Odessa Jr. Jacks (Odessa) Oklahoma City Oil Kings (Oklahoma City) San Antonio Jr. Rampage (San Antonio) Texas Aces Texas Jr. Stars (Austin) Tulsa Flames (Tulsa) Q-3 When will DSTHL Member Organizations be allowed to hold their tryouts? A. All TAHA member organizations are required to conform with TAHA s established tryout dates and rules that may be found on the TAHA website at and which support the pyramid structure. However, given that TAHA recognizes USA Hockey team designations as Tier I and Tier II (14U, 16U, and 18U) or House/Rec (all age divisions), the DSTHL has imposed further restrictions to create the distinct opportunity for and distance between 10U and 12U AA and A/B tryouts. The earliest 2013/14 tryouts dates and times for DSTHL teams shall be as follows: 4

5 DFW Sat/June 8-6am - DSTHL 14U AA (Tier II) Sat/June 15-6am - DSTHL 14U A/B and DSE 02, 03, 04, 00 AAA and HC Dallas 00 AAA Sat/June 15-12noon - DSTHL 10U AA and 12U AA Sun/June 16-6am - DSTHL 10U A/B and 12U A/B Sat/June 22-6am - DSTHL 16U AA and 18U AA (Tier II) Sat/June 29-6am - DSTHL 16U A and 18U A HOUSTON Sat/June 22-6am - DSTHL 14U AA, 16U AA, and 18U AA (Tier II) Sat/June 29-6am - DSTHL 10U AA and 12U AA and DSTHL 14U A/B, 16U A, and 18U A Sun/June 30-6am - DSTHL 10U A/B and 12U A/B ALL OTHER NON-DFW All other non-dfw DSTHL member organizations shall hold tryouts in compliance with TAHA-mandated dates. As in seasons past, TAHA and local leagues rely upon the integrity of organizations and players to ensure that contracts be neither offered nor signed prior to the above dates. Any organization or member found to be in violation thereof will be subject to sanctions by the DSTHL including, but not limited to, a penalty, fine, suspension, or expulsion from the League. Q-4 How many teams will each Member Organization be allowed to offer for the 2013/14 season? A. With the exception of the provisions set forth in Q-8 herein, Charter Member Organizations will be allowed one (1) team at AA in each age division (18U, 16U, 14U, 12U, and 10U) and may also offer UP TO five (5) A or B teams in the DSTHL. Provided, however, that during the 2013/14 season we recognize that some of the organizations will have budget restrictions that necessitate up to twelve (12) teams in the League, and multiple A or B teams in an age division will, therefore, be acceptable. The Charter Member Organizations, however, must be down to ten (10) League teams by the start of the 2014/15 season. 5

6 Except as may be otherwise determined by the DSTHL Executive Committee, Affiliate Member Organizations will be allowed UP TO eight (8) teams in the DSTHL. At least one team in each age division is encouraged, and multiple A or B teams in an age division, thereafter, will be acceptable. This team limit maximum, however, is under review for possible reduction for the 2014/15 season. Q-5 Will the DSTHL continue to have team and roster size requirements? A. Member Organizations will not have to meet minimum number of team requirements to play in the League but must be in compliance with TAHA minimum team/member policy at all times. The DSTHL does want to ensure the viability of each team playing in the League so the MINIMUM roster requirements are as follows: 10U teams must have minimum of 10 skaters and 1 goalie 12U teams must have minimum of 11 skaters and 1 goalie 14U teams must have a minimum of 14 skaters and 1 goalie 16U and 18U teams must have a minimum of 15 skaters and 1 goalie Any team that has not met the roster requirement by August 1 st will be required to release contracted players to allow them to find other teams to play on for the coming season. There can be no penalty assessed against players whose teams did not meet the roster requirements. The League will attempt to devote a portion of the DSTHL web site to teams seeking players in hopes of assisting players in securing spots. Q-6 Which Member Organizations will be granted AA status for the 2013/14 season? A. The Charter Member Organizations shall continue to compete at the AA level. Three organizations will be Dallas based (DJHA, HC Dallas, and the Dallas Jr. Stars) and one organization in Houston (Wild). In Dallas, the Allen Americans 18U and 16U teams shall be grandfathered AA status for the 2013/14 season in reflection of the number of potential players currently in the Dallas market at the midget age groups. 6

7 Additionally, where competitive and as determined by leveling play and evaluations, AA teams will be accepted in the 2013/14 season from Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Austin, San Antonio, and Odessa. Except as set forth immediately below, all further Member Organization teams will compete at the A and B levels as determined by leveling play and evaluations. The DSTHL continues efforts to tighten up the hockey development pyramid in Texas and DFW by limiting the number of AA teams at each age division to an appropriate number based on the number of expected returning players. At the same time, and as discussed at the Winter Meeting, the DSTHL considered offering Affiliate Member Organizations the opportunity to level in at AA. Therefore, the DSTHL created a committee of four (4) DFW coaching leaders, who acted under the direction of a DSTHL Executive Committee member, to consider appropriate directions regarding AA teams. Each Affiliate Member Organization was given the opportunity to submit a AA Status Application, together with supporting arguments, for specific teams to level in at AA. The said panel of coaches reviewed the Applications and made recommendations to the Executive Board of the DSTHL. The DSTHL Executive Committee reviewed the Applications and recommendations from the coaching panel before making its final decisions. After extensive data review regarding numbers of players by birth year, association, and level of play, the DSTHL Executive Committee made the following determinations: o The number of players at Bantam ( 99) and younger does not support the addition of any AA teams at the Squirt, PeeWee, or Bantam age divisions at this time. o The numbers support the ability to allow a few teams the opportunity to level in at AA in the Midget age divisions. o Based on the Applications submitted, the following teams will have the OPPORTUNITY to LEVEL IN to the AA bracket of the following age divisions: Midget Minor Texas Jr. Brahmas Midget Major Lone Star Wolves Midget Major Dallas Oilers The Leveling Committee will determine which, if any, teams will be added to the AA division for league play based on the Leveling Process as more specifically set forth in Q-11 herein. 7

8 Although several Affiliate Member Organizations requested AA teams that were not granted, the DSTHL feels that even the addition of the above-specified teams pushes the limits of what DFW can truly support when added to the AA teams that are expected to be fielded by the Charter Member Organizations and the Allen Americans. The DSTHL understands that Member Organizations applied for more AA teams than were ultimately decided upon and that some Member Organizations were not granted AA status altogether. The DSTHL regrets that it was unable to accommodate all requests but assures all Member Organizations that every Application was reviewed thoroughly and discussed at length. It is the DSTHL s sincere hope that with the support of the Dallas Stars, the Texas hockey community will, over the next few years, experience and witness growth in the overall number of players for all organizations, in all age divisions, and at every skill level. Q-7 If my Organization is currently only playing at A/B, can we ever get to AA? A. In accordance with the process set forth in Q-6 above, the DSTHL Executive Committee, each year prior to tryouts, will evaluate extensive data review regarding the number of players by birth year, association, and level of play to provide opportunity for the most competitive divisions possible without deviating from its stated goals. Q-8 Will any Dallas AAA teams be playing in the League? A. Yes. In support of the official TAHA Tier I organizations, HC Dallas and the Dallas Star Elite (DSE), the following AAA teams will be permitted to participate in League play and the playoffs at the following age divisions: DSE 04 SQAA DSE 03 PWA DSE 02 PWAA DSE 00 BTAA HC Dallas 00 BTAA The addition of these teams to League play will: increase the quality and numbers/opponents at four of the age divisions provide for more diverse/alternate scrimmage opportunities maintain the desired local game opportunities for those teams. 8

9 Q-9 Will player eligibility and playing rules be the same in the DSTHL as the old league? A. Eligibility will continue to follow USA Hockey guidelines as well as the DSTHL Policies, Games Rules, and Procedures as may be updated from time to time and posted on the DSTHL website. Q-10 Will girls teams be allowed to play in the DSTHL? A. Yes provided they play at an age group that does not include checking. The DSTHL wants to promote and support girls hockey in any way possible. However, asking the boys teams to alter the rules for league games does not seem appropriate. Q-11 How will leveling be handled in the DSTHL? A. For the 2013/14 season the DSTHL will continue to use the upcoming season s (very early) Labor Day tournament as the primary tool for leveling. The Dallas Stars are committed to efforts to schedule DSTHL teams v DSTHL teams rather than out-ofstate/country teams in order to improve match ups and the competition analysis process. Further, a DSTHL Leveling Committee, including a panel of Coaching Leaders from various Member Organizations, shall be formed to collectively work together and evaluate teams during the course of the Labor Day weekend games as well as throughout the subsequent leveling steps set forth below. All teams, including AA teams, will be required to participate in the expected/desired division. Upon completion of the September Labor Day leveling process, the DSTHL Leveling Committee will -- dependent upon the Member Organizations response to the seeding placement/spread between teams placed in certain brackets -- propose scrimmage matchups between teams to either ratify or correct the initial seeding placement. The team challenging the seeding placement will be required to travel to the opposing team s host ice. Given the opportunity for and benefit of participating in additional games, the costs for these subsequent games shall be borne equally by the participating teams. Any such subsequent scrimmages will be required to take place between the Labor Day tournament and Sunday, September 14, with an anticipated Scheduling Meeting date of September 21/22,

10 Further, the NHL Dallas Stars are committed to giving consideration to alleviate the stay to play hotel requirements and prices given the mandatory nature of the leveling process. Q-12 When will the annual Scheduling Meeting be held in order to determine the season schedule? A. Per above, the annual Scheduling Meeting is expected to take place in Dallas on the weekend of September 21/22, Q-13 Will teams out of Dallas still be allowed to host weekend play? A. Given the noticeable improvement of non-dallas teams successfully scheduling host/home games this past season, it is the League s intention to continue the precedent set. Dallas teams will be expected to travel as many as two (2) times during the season for League play. The League s policy supports host weekends for non-dallas organizations and teams in the A and B divisions; provided, however, that Dallas teams may agree but are not expected to participate against other Dallas teams away from the Metroplex area. At the AA level (and at whatever other level the scheduling to do so is mutually agreeable), visiting teams shall travel for a two-game series against the home team so as to more closely mirror college and junior game weekends. The non-dallas Member Organizations, however, will not be limited to two (2) games per travel weekend and may participate in up to four (4) League or non- League games upon travelling to Dallas. Q-14 How many regular season games will be played during the 2013/14 season? A. The target number of regular season games is 20 but may vary slightly by division based on the number of teams in that division. Q-15 Will there be any change to the League playoff format? A. Based upon feedback from all Member Organizations at the DSTHL Winter Meeting held in February, 2013, no changes to the League playoff format are anticipated at this time. 10

11 Q-16 Will 2013/14 DSTHL League fees increase? A. Costs for the 2013/14 DSTHL season have not been finalized, but we do not expect costs to be substantially changed from the 2012/13 League season fees. Q-17 Which type of communications may Member Organizations expect from the DSTHL? A. In addition to the DSTHL website which provides pertinent information to Organizations, coaches, players, and parents, the League will continue to hold monthly conference call meetings as well as one annual meeting each year for Member Organizations representatives. The DSTHL also distributes a monthly newsletter with League reminders and information of interest to our hockey community. Given the large number of DSTHL families, the DSTHL further looks to each Member Organization to forward and share pertinent information with its own membership. Q-18 What if my child does not make a travel team? A. In the DFW area, plans for a cooperative effort between DSTHL Member rinks for a city-wide house league with an added level of play between traditional house and B travel are underway. It has taken incredible effort and compromise between rinks and clubs to get the new DSTHL off the ground. We feel that the time is right to extend this cooperation between rinks to the bases of the pyramid. In Houston and some of the non-dfw small market areas, local rinks offer citywide house leagues with an added select level of play between traditional house and B travel hockey where non-travel players are selected for teams that hold additional practices and games and participate in tournament play. Q-19 May any team of a participating DSTHL Charter or Affiliate Member Organization participate in another league or play an independent schedule? A. All Charter and Affiliate Member teams must play in the DSTHL with the exception of any: Member Organization team that participates in a rink based TAHA recognized in-house league or high school league Tier I or AAA team of a TAHA-designated Tier I Member Organization 11

12 DSTHL teams may not participate in any other league or regularly scheduled series or showcase. Teams are free to participate in weekend/annual holiday tournaments and schedule scrimmage games against opponents of their choice, in addition to league play. 12

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